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Boeing has announced that the FAA has granted the 787 expanded Type Inspection Authorisation (TIA) on April 20, clearing the way for FAA staff to fully participate in future test flights on the path to achieving full type certification.
“This TIA expansion is another significant step toward delivering airplanes to our customers. We remain on track to deliver the first airplane to ANA this year,” said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program.
The 787 was granted initial TIA in February, and Boeing says that the granting of expanded TIA is confirmation from the FAA that the aircraft and team are ready to collect additional certification data. It was achieved by demonstrating the readiness of the 787 throughout a variety of speeds, altitudes and configurations.
Boeing has also announced that it has finalised the aerodynamic design of the aircraft, with no changes to the external lines or shape required.
Altogether, the fleet of 787 test aircraft has now logged over 505 flying hours, while test aircraft ZA003 has now arrived at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida to undergo extreme weather testing at the McKinley Climatic Laboratory.
Boeing has also released videos of the flutter and ground effect testing, which are available on its newairplane.com website.
